Latest news from the Pacific Northwest

Lummi Nation seeks trust status for Ferndale land

FERNDALE, Wash. (AP) - Whatcom County and the city of Ferndale are opposing the Lummi Nation's move to win trust land designation for 80 acres of land it bought last year along Interstate 5.

Ten acres are within the city of Ferndale and the rest is in Bellingham's urban growth area.

The Bellingham Herald reports (
http://bit.ly/WnYzJl) Ferndale and the county are concerned that tribal trust designation would take the property off property tax rolls. The local governments have written the Bureau of Indian Affairs with their opposition.

Ferndale City Administrator Greg Young said the Lummis may be trying to imitate the Tulalip Tribes' Quil Ceda Village development near Marysville.